Ngoc T. Bui

Assistant Professor

Email: ngoctbui21@ou.edu
Phone: (405) 325-4037
Office: Sarkeys Energy Center, T-313
Lab Website

Education
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering (2014)
University of Connecticut
M.S. Textile Engineering (2007)
Chonnam National University, Korea
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Minor in Organic Chemistry
HoChiMinh City University of Technology, Vietnam

Research Focus

Water-energy-environment nexus
Sustainable separations
Advanced functional materials
Membrane materials and processes
Nanomaterials and nanotechnology
Matters across dynamical interfaces
Transport phenomena

Experience and Awards

Postdoctoral Fellow, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Berkeley, CA, 12/2017 to 12/2019
Postdoctoral Fellow, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Livermore, CA 11/2013 to 05/2017.

About

The Bui Lab tackles grand challenges facing humanity at the water-energy-environment nexus. At the interface of physics, chemistry, materials science, and engineering, we mechanistically study the fundamental physicochemical properties of organic-inorganic hybrid (nano)materials and the transport behaviors of molecules across these multicomponent interfaces. We then develop pragmatic applications of these new materials in water reuse, renewable energy, and environmental remediation. With scientific and engineering principles, we also work toward innovating new technologies for sustainable separations with systems-level assessments, eventually helping transform the future water, energy, and environment landscapes.

The current stage of our research includes the rational design of advanced membranes and adsorbents from nanoscale building blocks and soft/hard materials, energy-efficient desalination systems for the treatment of wastewater from oil and gas industry, and methods for the conversion of pollutants and waste to valuable commodities. With in-house efforts and through collaborations, we will couple theoretical studies with materials synthesis, (in-situ) characterization, membrane/electrode/adsorbent testing techniques, and integrated processes in our research. For more information, please visit our group webpage.

Selected Publications

Google Scholar

Patents

McCutcheon, J.R., Hoek, E.M.V., Bui, N.N., Lind, M.L., Nano-structured Membranes for Engineered Osmosis Applications, International Publication Number WO 2011/060202 A1.
Kim C., Balathanigaimani M.S., Bui, N.N., Moon, H., Yang, K.S., Lee, J.W., Activated carbon with ultra-high specific surface area from corn and Production method thereof, KO 10-2008-0085605.
With LLNL, Nanoporous membranes for fast diffusion of […] and small molecules (pending)
With LBNL and UC Berkeley, Multifunctional Separations using […] Membranes (pending)

Book Chapters

McCutcheon, J.R., Bui, N.N., Chapter 7: Forward Osmosis, in “Desalination: Water from Water”. Ed. Jane Kucera, Wiley, 2014.
McCutcheon, J.R., Xia, L., Bui, N.N., Chapter 5: Forward Osmosis, in “Desalination 2nd Edition”. Ed. Jane Kucera, Scrivener Publishing LLC, 2019.

Journal Articles

Bui N.T., Kang H.M., Teat S.J., Su G.M., Pao C.W., Liu Y.S., Zaia E., Guo J., Chen J.L., Meihaus K.R., Dun C., Mattox T.M., Long J.R., Fiske P., Kostecki R., Urban J.J., A Nature-Inspired Hydrogen-Bonded Supramolecular Complex for Selective Copper Ion Removal from Water, Nature Communications, 11, 2020, 3947.
Li Y., Chen C., Meshot E.R., Buchsbaum S.F., Herbert M., Zhu R., McDonald B., Bui N., Jue M.L., Park S.J., Valdez C.A., Hok S., He Q., Doona C.J., Wu K.J., Swager T.M., Fornasiero F., Autonomously Responsive Membranes for Chemical Warfare Protection, Advanced Functional Materials, 30, 2020.
Hsu C., Ma C., Bui N., Song Z., Wilson A., Kostecki R., Diederichsen K., McCloskey B., Urban J., Enhanced forward osmosis desalination with a hybrid ionic liquid/hydrogel thermo-responsive draw agent system, ACS Omega, 4, 2019, 4296-4303.
Meshot, E., Zwissler D., Bui N., Kuykendall T., Wang C., Hexemer A., Wu K.J., Fornasiero F., Quantifying the hierarchical order in self-aligned carbon nanotubes from atomic to micrometer scale, ACS Nano, 11, 2017, 5405-16.
Bui N.N., McCutcheon J.R., Nanoparticle-Embedded Nanofibers in High Permselectivity Thin-Film Nanocomposite Membranes for Forward Osmosis, Journal of Membrane Science, 518, 2016, 338-46.
Bui N., Kim S., Meshot E., Penã J., Gibson P., Wu K.J., Fornasiero F., Ultra-breathable and Protective Fabrics with Sub-5nm Carbon Nanotube Pores, Advanced Materials, 28, 2016, 5871-77 – Also featured in public media, e.g. on phys.org: “Second skin” protects soldiers from biological, chemical agents.
Bui N.N., Arena J., McCutcheon J.R., Proper Accounting of Mass Transfer Resistances in Forward Osmosis: Improving the Accuracy of Model Predictions of Structural Parameter, Journal of Membrane Science, 492, 2015, 289-302.
Bui N.N., McCutcheon J.R., Nanofiber Supported Thin-film Composite Membrane for Pressure Retarded Osmosis, Environmental Science & Technology, 48, 2014, 4129-36.
Bui N.N., McCutcheon J.R., Hydrophilic Nanofibers as New Supports for Thin Film Composite Membranes for Engineered Osmosis, Environmental Science & Technology, 47, 2013, 1761-9.
Bui N.N., Lind M.L., Hoek E.M.V., McCutcheon J.R., Electrospun Nanofiber Supported Thin Film Composite Membranes for Engineered Osmosis, Journal of Membrane Science, 385-386, 2011, 10-19.
Bui N.N., Kim B.H., Yang K.S., Dela Cruz M.E., Ferraris J.P., Activated Carbon Fibers from Electrospinning of Polyacrylonitrile/Pitch Blends, Carbon, 47, 2009, 2538-9.
Kim B.H., Bui N.N., Yang K.S., Dela Cruz M.E., Ferraris J.P., Electrochemical Properties of Activated Polyacrylonitrile/Pitch Carbon Fibers Produced Using Electrospinning, Bull. Korean Chem. Soc., 30, 2009, 1967-72.
Kim C., Bui N.N., Yang K.S., Kojima M., Kim Y.A., Kim Y.J., Endo M., Yang S.C., Self-Sustained Thin Webs Consisting of Porous Carbon Nanofibers for Supercapacitors via the Electrospinning of Polyacrylonitrile Solutions Containing Zinc Chloride, Advanced Materials, 19, 2007, 2341-6.
Kim C., Jeong Y.I., Bui N.N., Yang K.S., Kojima M., Kim Y.A., Endo M., Lee J.W., Synthesis and Characterization of Porous Carbon Nanofibers with Hollow Cores through the Thermal Treatment of Electrospun Copolymeric Nanofiber Webs, Small, 3, 2007, 91-95.